Zion Clark has officially set Guinness World Record for the fastest 20-meter walk on two hands. On 15th February 2021, at his old high school in Massillon, Ohio, USA, Zion set the record with a bursting speed of 4.78 seconds.
Clark is a paralympic athlete, wrestler, entrepreneur, actor, motivational speaker, and author. We can say that Zion Clark is a man with multiple talents.
Before the match, Clark’s coach Butch Reynolds (Former Olympic athlete and Guinness World Records holder) was helping him prepare mentally and physically for the task. “Everybody was excited, I was excited, my girlfriend was excited…It was just a moment man!”, he said after setting the record.
Zion is an extraordinary person and a source of motivation for a lot of young people. Although we know him as a highly driven person, his life hasn’t been easy. He was born with no legs due to a rare disease called ‘Caudal Regression Syndrome’. It is a disorder that impairs the development of the lower (caudal) half of the body. It is estimated to occur in 1 to 2.5 per 100,000 newborns. This condition is much more common in infants born to mothers with diabetes.
Due to his condition, his biological mother was unable to take care of him pushing him to the foster care system. For 16 years, he moved to various foster homes but none of them worked. Finally, he met Kimberli Hawkins, who adopted him within days of legally aging out.
He was bullied both mentally and physically at school. He was shoved in lockers and beaten up badly. But he feels grateful because he is a lot stronger now.
It is said that for coal to turn into a diamond, it must endure extreme pressure for a period of time. Zion had to go through hardships since he was a child in order to become a strong and resilient person. He hopes to become the first American athlete to compete in both the Olympic wrestling and Paralympic wheelchair racing games in 2024.
He wants to become the athlete with the most number of medals and awards than Michael Phelps. With his relentless and tenacious attitude, we’re sure he will become the most decorated athlete in the future.
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